Richard L. Stolp

6/7/2014

Dr. Richard L. Stolp passed away at Fremont Assited Living in Springfield on Saturday, June 7, 2014. He was born in Springfield, Missouri on Memorial Day, May 30, 1923. His parents were Elmer L. and Fay Leona Stolp. An older brother, Oran R., preceded him in death. He attended public schools in Springfield and Drury College from 1941 to 1945, from which he received a B.A. degree in Religion and Philosophy. He was wed to Susan M. Carr on February 7, 1942, in Ozark, MO. A license to preach was granted to him by the United Methodist Church in 1941 and he served students churches in the area until 1945. He attended Garrett Theological Seminary and Northwestern University in Evanston, Il from 1945 to 1948, receiving a Master of Divinity Degree from the former and a Master's Degree in Philosophy from the latter. Work toward a Ph.D Degree was carried out at the University of Chicago. He served four United Methodist Churches in the Central Illinois Conference form 1945 to 1987 and received a "Most Outstanding Young Man" award in Morton, IL in 1952. Other duties included serving as District Superintendent over one-hundred Methodist churches in the Peoria District from 1970 to 1974. An honorary doctor's degree was awarded to him in 1971 by Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Il. He retired and returned, along with wife, Susan to Springfield in 1987. They both served as members of the Auxiliary at St. John's Hospital from 1998 until 2012. He was a member of Schweitzer United Methodist Church. He is survived by two children, Deborah Sue Olson of Neillsville, Wisconsin and Richard D. Stolp of Raleigh, North Carolina; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and three nieces.

Funeral services will be Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 10 am in Schweitzer United Methodist Church under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Burial will follow in Hazelwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Preacher's Aid Society, 225 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 or Habitat for Humanity, 2410 S. Scenic, Springfield, MO 65807.